Thursday: Today is beginning sunny and warm. We leave at 0800 to time Race Pass so we go through at slack or a slight flood. Currents can run up to six knots and the wind promises to be from the northwest. This combination can result in lumpy seas during the ebb. Moreover, at ebb we would hardly make any headway and also have little or no control.

We arrived at Blind Channel Marina, a lovely spot with good facilities and tied up for the night. A group had happy hour on the upper deck of Raven Magic, while others hiked up to see the old-growth cedar, then some went for supper in the restaurant while others cooked on board.

We are expecting wind and weather tonight and the waves and wind are building already. The marina is open in the direction of the wind and waves and the halyards are already slapping, so we may be in for a rocking time tonight.

Friday: The night turned out to be quiet.

Today we are off to Big Bay Public Dock and the departure is to be mid-afternoon to ride the tide down Cordero Channel and arrive at the Gillard Rapids at slack.

The day proved to be rainy and grey, but people wandered around and entertained themselves until departure. The flotilla pulled out on schedule and motored down through the currents in Cordero Channel, arriving right at slack.

At slack, we all went through Gillard Passage without incident and tied up at Big Bay community dock. We then had a final barbecue and called it a day.

The slack in Yaculta Rapids tomorrow is at 0520 and we want to be there right on time as that opportunity is very short before the the whirlpools start up again as the current increases to as much as ten knots at flood.

The next slack tomorrow is noon, and most of our boats chose that departure, but that late departure puts arrival at Powell River into evening hours.

Saturday: Three boats traversed the Yaculta Rapids without incident and motored towards Powell River, encountering twenty-five knot winds and chop on the nose after leaving Calm Channel. Two persevered to Powell River and one decided to sit out the blow in Lund, along the way.

Intrepid is back at the dock in Powell River now and the other boats will be arriving as the day wears on. We have one last get-together tonight and that is it for the 2014 Cooper Dreamspeaker Broughtons Flotilla.

This was a record turnout with ten boats and thirty people participating.

Our last update was Day Six. We are now in the Broughtons and our minds are more on the amazing scenery and wildlife, and enjoying bays, marinas and the other boaters' company than on communicating with the outside world -- even if we could out here where Internet is sparse and slow -- so updates will be less frequent.

After anchoring overnight in Claydon Bay, we proceeded to Sullivan Bay Marina. Happy Hour took place at five under the tent, with excellent live entertainment by the local jack of all trades. Supper followed in the restaurant on the dock. This is a fun little town. There are float houses for sale as low as $105K and air service from the major centres if anyone is looking for a remote hideout.

From Sullivan Bay, we went a short distance to Waddington Bay to anchor for the night. Intrepid went out to the Strait for some sailing and along the way we encountered at least one hundred dolphins feeding and sporting around over a square mile of sea. They put on quite a show and we have video, but no way to upload it right now.

The next day we were off to Echo Bay Marina. Pot luck supper was at
six and Bill had caught a fish so we all shared a few bites.

The next morning we all set sail for Qwatsi, but our lead boat diverted to Port McNeill due to electrical problems, leaving the rest of us on our own. Some boats found room at Qwatsi Marina, but the space was limited and some anchored, but others returned the short distance to Echo Bay while others went on to Lagoon Cove Marina.

Intrepid was among that group, and along the way while running wing and wing down Tribune Channel, we encountered another group of a hundred or so dolphins. This time they accompanied us and wove back and forth under the bow, leaped from the water and generally put on an amazing show only feet from our boat. I shot video for twenty minutes at least.

The plan is to meet up with Corus again at Port Harvey. We leave shortly, and have to time a pass, so that is it for now. Pictures later.

Today, roll call was at 0730 and we all left the dock at eight as planned, then we motored as a group out of the harbour and around the west end of Malcolm Island. Destination: Claydon Bay.

After yesterday's gale, today's conditions were remarkably calm. We occasionally encountered winds of five to ten knots crossing Queen Charlotte Strait and Intrepid sailed all afternoon but most boats headed straight to Claydon Bay and anchored in a well-protected corner. A few of our group went to Sullivan Bay to enjoy the floating town and marina an extra day. The flotilla is loosely organised, with boats proceeding according to their own wishes, but keeping in touch by radio and planning in face to face meetings whenever we are in ports.

In spite of few small mechanical issues here and there, all boats are able to keep up. With this many people an boats travelling together, each is secure in the knowledge that we are being led by experienced explorers and supported by the considerable combined wisdom and experience of the other skippers and crews.

Tomorrow's destination is Sullivan Bay on North Broughton Island, a mere 4.2 nautical miles from our present anchorage. We are now halfway through our time and as far north and east as we will go. These days, we are enjoying the Broughtons region, but from here, each stop will be a little closer to our home base at Powell River.

A skippers meeting was held to discuss and confirm the destination, and the departure time and route for tomorrow. Claydon Bay, some 30 nautical miles away from our present location, is the confirmed destination and departure is at 0800, with a radio roll call at 0730 on channel 68.

Claydon Bay is a wilderness anchorage, which appeals to some and not others, and nearby Sullivan Bay is our planned stop for the next night, so some boats may go directly to Sullivan Bay in order to have two days to enjoy the facilities at the marina location.

Although the winds were blowing 25 knots when we went to bed, the night was quiet and in the morning the wind had dropped to almost nothing.
We motored out past Port Neville, then Milly Island and turned west on Johnstone Strait towards Port McNeill. We had intended to sail, but the Strait was dead calm and we motored directly to Port McNeill.

We've finally officially arrived at The Broughtons, even though we are actually passing them to the south and spending the rest of the day and night at Port McNeill, just south of our target area. The plan is to fuel up, provision, and rest up tonight; then travel the 30+ sea miles to Turnbull Cove on the mainland north of the Broughton Islands tomorrow. From then on, we'll just do short daily trips from one bay or marina to the next and enjoy the area.

We all arrived at Port McNeill mid-afternoon and tied up at North Island Marina and went ashore. At 1700, we had a skippers meeting and the plans changed. The forecast is for winds up to 35 knots tomorrow, so that is a good reason to stay put and enjoy Port McNeill.

The decision now is to stay in Port McNeill a second day to wait out the gale, then cross to Claydon Bay which is a bit closer and better sheltered from the expected winds than Turbull Cove.

Contrary to our expectations, last night was dead calm. We slept well, awakening early with the sun at 0430. Corus called on the radio at 0600 and all the boats checked in. We left the anchorage at 0630 and motored up through the Lower Rapids. Currents ran up to five knots against us and we were stalled down to a knot or so some places, but got through in short order.

From there, the group motored into fifteen knots of wind on the nose until we arrived at Port Neville. A few tied up there, but the rest of us went on to Baresides Bay and anchored. Port Neville is not much, just a dock and a small historic store. The whale watcher tours from Campbell River show up here sometimes.
Some in the group dinghied back to see the historic site. Others enjoyed the day on deck and on the beach. There was even a report of a cougar sighting.

Predictions are for strong winds again tonight. This time, maybe they will be right. As sundown approaches, we find we're anchored out in the wind and waves on the exposed side of the channel. We let out two hundred and forty feet of chain for 7:1 scope and set an anchor alarm. I see others letting out more chain, too. I expect to sleep well after a day in the fresh air and rocked by the swells coming down the channel.

~ follow the 2014 Cooper Dreamspeaker Broughtons Flotilla in real time on the FLOTILLA TRACKER ~

DAY two ~ notes from the crew on INTREPID IV ~

After a quiet night at anchor we cast off, one by one, around 1100 hours bound for Surge Narrows. Our plan was to meet at the entrance to Beazley Passage and proceed through at slack, predicted to be after 1300, as a group.

Intrepid found good wind, and we sailed some of the way, but motored a fair bit to meet the schedule and because we encountered unpredictable gusts from all directions as we got into the narrower sections.

Most of us arrived early, so we drifted and had lunch while the stragglers caught up, then proceeded through as a group, one after another. One sailboat went through an hour early and reported on the radio that they encountered four knots maximum current, but most of us stuck together and waited for slack.

We all entered the sheltered bays of the Octopus Islands Marine Park, anchored near shore and stern-tied, well protected from the gale-force winds predicted for Johnstone Strait late tonight or tomorrow. The depths along shore in spots were such that some were able to back right to shore and step off. The afternoon was spent exploring this enchanting spot and visiting other boats.

At present, our plans for tomorrow are uncertain due to predicted gale-force winds ahead. We have a net on channel 68 tomorrow at 0600 to decide, once the day's forecast is available and in time to make the Upper Rapids at slack if all is clear.